‘DREAMer’ wakes people to changes

Ana Zaragoza-Gomez came to the United States from Mexico City at the age of 5 along with her younger brother and her father.

city-CSUP-070814Ana Zaragoza-Gomez, a Colorado State University Pueblo student, was one of 10 individuals honored for their exemplary leadership in their communities as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients. (Courtesy photo)

The 2013 Pueblo Centennial High School graduate and current Colorado State University-Pueblo student said Monday that President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival has changed her life in several ways, even taking her to meet and be recognized by some of the people who created it.

“For so long, I was in the shadows. I didn’t have an identity. With Deferred Action, I now have a Social Security card and a state issued driver’s license,” she said Monday.

“I am able to work now. It has opened up so many doors and opportunities.”

Zaragoza-Gomez, 19, was recognized June 17 at a White House ceremony as a Champion of Change.

She was one of 10 individuals honored for their exemplary leadership in their communities as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients.

Zaragoza-Gomez, who will be entering her junior year at CSU-Pueblo this fall, is majoring in psychology with minors in Spanish, business administration and Chicano Studies.

She was recognized at the White House for serving as a success story and role model in her academic and professional spheres.

“I was able to meet with people from around the country who have done amazing things in their community,” Zaragoza-Gomez said.

The Obama administration issued deferred deportation as an executive order two years ago. Since that time, tens of thousands of undocumented young immigrants known as DREAMers have applied and just recently became eligible to renew their two-year deportation deferments.

Zaragoza-Gomez said that she was excited to meet the people who helped create DACA.

“It was such an honor to be in their presence and a great experience,” Zaragoza-Gomez said.

According to a White House press release, the individuals chosen “distinguished themselves through their community involvement and the hard work they put into helping other members of their academic and professional communities succeed.”

The Champions of Change program was created as an opportunity for the White House to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities.

Zaragoza-Gomez’s photograph and a brief biography was posted on the White House website.

She works to promote civic participation in her community by canvassing and recruiting volunteers with Mi Familia Vota.

“It’s allowed me to meet people who have opened my eyes. I register people to vote and I have found that talking to people and sharing my story motivates and it helps inspire people,” Zaragoza-Gomez said.